Read Comey’s OTHER Letter: The One Explaining His Decision to FBI Employees

Saturday, October 29, 2016 10:14

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FBI Director James Comey wrote two letters yesterday about the Hillary Clinton email investigation. You’ve heard about the first one, which he sent to Republican and Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill (and which Hillary Clinton falsely claimed he had sent only to Republicans). Now, read his other letter, where he explains his decision to re-open (yes, lefty pundits: “re-open” . . . see rant below) the email investigation:

To all:

This morning I sent a letter to Congress in connection with the Secretary Clinton email investigation. Yesterday, the investigative team briefed me on their recommendation with respect to seeking access to emails that have recently been found in an unrelated case. Because those emails appear to be pertinent to our investigation, I agreed that we should take appropriate steps to obtain and review them.

Of course, we don’t ordinarily tell Congress about ongoing investigations, but here I feel an obligation to do so given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed. I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record. At the same time, however, given that we don’t know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails, I don’t want to create a misleading impression. In trying to strike that balance, in a brief letter and in the middle of an election season, there is significant risk of being misunderstood, but I wanted you to hear directly from me about it.

Jim Comey

Comey here acknowledges that he is aware of the influence his decision could have on the election, and expresses concern that his letter to Congress will be misunderstood. Those who criticize him for the timing should imagine the contrary situation where he says nothing — and then it comes out after the election that he knew something and stayed mum. Especially if the new (if they are new) emails turned out to something significant, the firestorm would be never-ending. Comey is in a tough spot, and obviously felt that he had no choice but to speak up.

BONUS MINI-RANT ON THE “IT’S NOT RE-OPENED!” CONTROVERSY: And by the way, lefty pundits, what he’s being honest about is that the FBI is re-opening the investigation. Comey’s letter to lawmakers yesterday said that the FBI — and I quote — “had completed its investigation.” Now, they are going to investigate further. If that’s not “re-opening” the investigation, then what the hell is it?